Envoy Hit By Sniper In Beirut

July 17, 1985|United Press International

BEIRUT — Snipers wounded a Lebanese ambassador Tuesday on his way to meet with President Amin Gemayel, marring a new Syrian-backed security plan that gave residents of west Beirut their calmest day in months.

Zafer Al Hassan, Lebanon`s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, was slightly wounded in the shooting, which came as he tried to cross the Green Line, a no- man`s land of bombed-out buildings that separates Moslem west Beirut from the Christian east.

Al Hassan, who was headed for a meeting with Gemayel in east Beirut, was taken to American University Hospital in west Beirut, where he was treated for minor gunshot wounds to his hand and was later released.

The sniper attack was the only act of violence reported Tuesday as the new peace plan -- agreed upon last week by the area`s militia leaders -- took effect at 6 a.m. and gave residents one of their most peaceful days in months.

``So far, we have not encountered any problems. Everything is moving according to plan,`` said Capt. Ashraf Riffi, spokesman for the Internal Security Forces, or ISF, police units that began patrolling the streets of the Moslem sector.